Miracle babies: Amazing stories of survival, bubs beating the odds
A collection of remarkable tales unfolded in North Queensland this year – stories of resilience, determination, and the undeniable strength of the tiniest members of our community. SEE THE LIST
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In the heart of North Queensland, a collection of remarkable tales unfolded this year – stories of resilience, determination, and the undeniable strength of the tiniest members of our community.
These are the miracle babies, born against the odds, who, with their indomitable spirit, are inspiring awe and admiration.
Join the Townsville Bulletin as we take a look back at some of the most memorable, inspiring stories of the tiny titans in our community.
Tiny fighter Jacqueline defies the odds
Meet Mount Isa’s little miracle, baby Jacqueline, who defied the odds after being born prematurely at just 26 weeks gestation, weighing a mere 950g.
This tiny bundle of joy has captured the hearts of many as she embarks on her incredible journey of resilience and growth.
Baby Jacqueline’s story took an unexpected turn as she was transferred to Townsville for a few weeks shortly after her birth earlier this year.
Born too small to stay in Mount Isa’s Special Care Nursery, the brave little fighter faced the challenges of early life with determination.
Initially, Jacqueline needed assistance with breathing, but as the days passed, she began to show remarkable progress, growing steadily stronger.
Townsville became a temporary home where she received the specialised care needed for her fragile state.
Returning to Mount Isa on August 10, at the tender age of 51 days (34 weeks gestation), Jacqueline had already defied expectations by weighing in at 1830g – almost double her birth weight.
The journey had been tough, but this resilient baby was not about to let anything hold her back.
At 85 days old, Jacqueline was finally able to go home on September 13 weighing a robust 2640g.
Her original due date of September 21, 2023 now seems like a distant memory as this little warrior has proven that she’s not only a survivor but a thriver in the face of adversity, squeezing out some extra time in the world.
The Special Care Nursery team at Mount Isa said they couldn’t be prouder of Jacqueline and her devoted mum, Beyonce, who have navigated the challenges of the premature baby journey with unwavering strength and love.
‘I had a cry’: Tayan’s Christmas miracle
Heartache was replaced with joy for a Townsville family after their baby boy was discharged from Queensland Children’s Hospital recently just in time for his first Christmas at home.
Tayan Brush was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) after birth in July 2023 with his left heart chamber not meeting the apex which meant it couldn’t pump blood properly. He also experienced narrowing on the aorta in his valves.
Tayan’s mum Katrina Brush said her little fighter has spent his life thus far in hospital enduring open heart surgery at six days, then undergoing a second life saving heart surgery at four and a half months.
“He got an infection at four weeks and put in intensive care but bounced back.” she said.
“Tayan is a happy little baby, we’ve had ups and downs but this experience has made us a lot closer as a family.
“Mater Mothers Hospital [where he was first treated] have been amazing and the midwife there was so helpful.
“The Children’s Hospital were also so emotionally supportive.
“My husband had to go back to Townsville for work and I luckily had the support of the nursing staff who were so supportive and I can’t thank them enough because they’ve given us back our baby.”
After six months, the Townsville family, comprising mum, dad and two siblings, are embarking on a 16-hour drive home and stopping every four hours to feed him via a gastric tube.
Tayan’s first Christmas will include a visit from Mr Claus and the extended family he has not met yet.
Katrina said the family are finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel after their son has been kept in a medical unit since birth.
From nurse to mum
Townsville nurse Rebekah Barrie has opened up about the unique experience of being both a caregiver and a mother to a premature baby.
Rebekah’s son, Hugh, arrived in the world at 36 weeks gestation in June of this year, marking the beginning of a remarkable chapter in their lives.
“I was actually here on my second last day of work before maternity leave when I was induced to have Hugh at 36 weeks, so being on the other side of things and being the mother of a premature baby really opens your eyes to giving birth prematurely,” she said.
Despite the early arrival, baby Hugh has thrived, growing to a robust 8.5kg at just five months old.
Ms Barrie, who is a business nurse manager at Mater Mother’s Private Townsville, said baby Hugh is one of the many premature babies born at Mater this year.
“We have two premature babies with us in Mater Mothers’ at the moment, so the babies and their parents will stay with us for a little bit of time and become part of the family,” she said.
Rebekah emphasises the extraordinary nature of her own patient experience, stating, “My own patient experience was incredible – you do become part of the family because parents of premature babies do have an extended stay so it’s even more special as you form really close bonds with everyone from your doctors and midwives to kitchen staff and cleaners.”
Premmie twins’ ‘harrowing’ hospital journey
Caring for a new baby is hard enough, but for the Marller family, the challenge was even more extreme – having to care for premature identical twins, with health complications, while away from home for several months.
Mackay-based parents Jessica and Cameron Marller don’t know how they would have coped without the support from Ronald McDonald House Townsville while their twins received essential medical treatment at Townsville University Hospital.
Ms Marller said she was only 26 weeks pregnant when she was admitted to Townsville University Hospital on December 16, 2022, following a routine ultrasound of their Monochorionic identical twin boys, who shared one placenta.
“The ultrasound revealed that Twin A had Intrauterine growth restriction and I also had a shortened cervix,” Ms Marller said.
“Luckily, I was given the advice from another twin mum who had a similar experience, to pack a lot more than overnight in case you stay for a while.”
Following Twin A’s water breaking on the Saturday, and steroid shots to further the twin’s lung development, she delivered the twins via an emergency C-section the next day. Twin A, named Alexander, weighed 850g, while Twin B, named William, was 972g, were both admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) due to their extreme prematurity. Ms Marller said it was a “harrowing experience” how Alexander needed bowel surgery due to Necrotizing enterocolitis.
“He would need a stoma bag which was eventually reversed before we came home. This was the start of our journey through NICU and then eventually the Special Care Unit at the hospital,” she said.
Fortunately, the couple were able to access free accommodation and emotional support for a 124-night stay across the road from the hospital at Ronald McDonald House.
William was discharged on April 3, and Alexander on April 22, with the family returning home to Mackay, where the boys were “doing well and growing every day”.
Special delivery: Arlan welcomed into the world by family of doctors
It’s not every day you get to deliver your nephew, but for Vid, a junior doctor at Mount Isa Hospital, this extraordinary experience became a cherished memory earlier this year.
Vid was on his rotation in obstetrics and gynaecology when his nephew, Arlan, made his grand entrance into the world.
The story takes an even more heartwarming turn as Vid’s brother, Rukshan, Arlan’s father, is also a doctor at Mount Isa Hospital.
The serendipitous alignment of their professional roles made Arlan’s birth an unforgettable family affair.
Rukshan expressed his amazement, saying, “It was perfect timing to have his uncle working on the ward at the time. Arlan couldn’t be prouder of being born in the presence of, taken care of, and being discharged by his own uncle!”
For mum Noni, Arlan’s birth was not just a medical event but a deeply personal and wonderful experience.
“How many kids like Arlan could boast about his dad and uncle working at the same hospital and at the same time that he was born?” she said.
“Having them both be a part of my first birthing experience made me feel very calm, safe, and at home, and certainly made this memorable event even more special.”
Vid, reflecting on the unique circumstance, shares that this is a great memory to add to his list of experiences in his first year as a doctor.
“I can’t express in words how truly special and what an honour it was for me to be present to witness the arrival of my nephew,” he said.
Now a few months old, baby Alarn brings immense joy to the lives of those around him.
Baby born 4 months early
A Townsville mum was counting down the days to finally take her little miracle baby home after being born four months premature, weighing just 500g.
Deahanna Andrews said she still remembers the daunting feeling that washed over her when doctors told her she’d have to give birth to her first child earlier than expected.
The young mum’s baby girl was born at just 24 weeks on April 28, shortly after Ms Andrews was hospitalised with a serious blood pressure condition called pre-eclampsia.
“(After she was born) they were able to bring her over to me, and I gave her a kiss before they took her away,” she said.
“I had only just started feeling her in my belly, so to actually see her in person was surreal.”
The proud mum and her beautiful bub, who now weighs 2.5kg, recently celebrated her 100-day milestone last August.
Her family was gifted with a special quilt embroidered with ‘100’ from Life’s Little Treasures Foundation.
The charity sends the quilts to Townsville Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to help families celebrate as their bundles of joy hit the massive milestone of 100 days in the world.
Ms Andrews said it was touching to know there are people out there who didn’t even know her family but wanted to show they cared.
Claire’s heartwarming homecoming
Baby Claire stole the hearts of everyone at Mount Isa Hospital’s Special Care Nursery after arriving into the world seven weeks early.
Weighing a dainty 1.9kg at birth, this tiny warrior has shown the world the true meaning of resilience and strength.
Having spent a little over four weeks in the loving care of the Special Care Nursery team, baby Claire was finally able graduate and head home with her elated parents, Faith and Patrick in June.
In just four weeks, Claire defied expectations, putting on an impressive 800g and mastering the art of fully breastfeeding.
Her incredible progress is a source of inspiration for all, proving that even the tiniest fighters can conquer big battles.
Mum’s bedroom birth with ‘legendary’ help
A walk to the car turned into an emergency birth for a Townsville mum who had to bring her little one into the world without pain relief from her bedroom floor.
Burdell parents Madison and Brodie Phillips have thanked the ‘legendary’ paramedics who arrived just in time to deliver their son Zavey at 8.50am on Thursday, June 29.
Weighing in at 3.9kg, this impatient bub was eager to see the world and arrived just 30 minutes after the ambulance arrived to take mum to hospital.
Mr Phillips said his wife started having contractions at about 4.30am and everything was running smoothly until they were about to hop into the car to go to the hospital just after 8am.
It was then they realised baby Zavey was well and truly on his way and called triple-0.
“We’ve always said whenever, however, and whatever … as long as bub and mumma are safe, nothing else matters,” he said.
“Never did we think that would mean a triple-0 phone call because it was too late to go to the hospital, and then having three paramedics deliver your newborn on your bedroom floor.”
The proud dad said he was beyond grateful for paramedics Sam, John and Chima, who were nothing short of professional, reassuring and “absolute legends” through it all.
As for his wife Madison, she had been an “absolute super woman” through the birth of their second child.
“At one point, she asked for some pain relief, but the only thing the paramedics could give (her) was morphine, which they warned could make bub a bit drowsy when he comes out,” he said.
“As soon as they said that, she was like: ‘Nope, don’t worry about it,’ and powered on through like an absolute legend.”
Originally published as Miracle babies: Amazing stories of survival, bubs beating the odds
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